Goal: is to educate, entertain, empower and encourage you to break the silence and find your voice

Affects of Abusive relationships on children

physical abuse of children is about 40% - 70%heightened risk for child sexual abuseexposing children to domestic violence

psychological abuse:

rigid or inappropriate expectationsverbal abuseinconsistent contact/attentionfavoritismemotionalityenlisting children as spiestalking bad about the other parent to children

Undermining mother:

undermining rules/limitscriticizing manipulating visitsfiling child abuse reportslegal harassment withholding child supportreplacing the other parentoverestimates their skills as parentsoverstates their relationship with their children

There are three important aspects of parenting:

How you treat your childrenHow you threat the other parent of your childrenHow you treat yourself

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words severely hurt me

Emotional Abuse

constant belittling, shaming and humiliating

calling names and making negative comparison to others

telling a child he/she is "no good" "worthless" "bad" or " a mistake"

frequent yelling, threatening or bullying

ignoring or rejecting "the silent treatment" a child as punishment

limited physical contact with the child - no hugs kisses or other signs of affection

exposing the child to violence or the abuse of others

I love u, I hate u

by Colleen Williams

You say you love me but you hit me.

The same eyes that you looked into

are now black and blue.

When you were hitting me

I looked at you in your eyes,

you were so angry

because I caught you in more lies.

You lied and cheated on me;

what am I worth if there is infidelity?

I told you how I felt;

one blow to my face was what I was dealt.

You got upset at me when I tried to fight back;

you would would it me harder - flashbacks.

Memories, every song that plays on the radio

reminds me of you.

Domestic violence hurts everyone!.

intimidation and threats

lies and cheating

jealousy and isolation

forced or coerced sex

economic control and stealing

cultural and identity abuse​

Myths about domestic violence: domestic violence is not a problem in my community. domestic violence only happens to poor women and colored women. some people deserve to be hit alcohol, drug abuse, stress and mental illness cause domestic violence domestic violence is a personal problem between a husband and wife if it were that bad she would just leave a husband cannot rape his wife